Sweeper and filter assembly for beverage preparation machines

Abstract

Sweeper and filter assembly for beverage preparation machines comprising a sweeper associated with a filter, the sweeper comprising a carrier band mounted on at least two shafts. The carrier band can perform the filtering function itself as it is made from a filtering material or is provided with suitable orifices. The carrier band is flexible and preferably elastic. The shafts on which the band is mounted are supported by a casing, where at least one of said shafts engages a drive element comprising a motor and an electronic device for managing the motor. At least one scraper is provided joined to the casing in order to clean the carrier band. The motor of the drive element is independent from the motor of the juicing machine, the device having sweeping and filtering cycles independent of the juicing cycles of the main machine.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR A BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINE comprising:
 a flexible carrier band, wherein the band is permeable; 
 a pair of shafts about which said band is mounted in a continuous tank tread configuration so as to define an upper part of the band and a lower part of the band, wherein the band is configured to carry and filter a product of beverage preparation and the upper part of the band is disposed to catch the product of beverage preparation; and 
 a casing disposed within the beverage preparation machine, wherein the shafts, with the mounted band, are removably connected to the casing such that the band is under tension, and wherein the casing further comprises: 
 a main scraper disposed adjacent one of the shafts; 
 a non-return wall disposed adjacent one of the shafts opposite the main scraper; and 
 a secondary filter is formed in a bottom part of the casing adjacent the main scraper, wherein at least one of the shafts is configured to couple to a drive element disposed in the beverage preparation machine comprising a motor and an electronic device for managing the motor, 
 wherein the casing, together with the shafts, mounted band, main scraper, and secondary filter disposed within the casing, is removably connected to the beverage preparation machine. 
 
     
     
       2. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible carrier band is made from an elastic material. 
     
     
       3. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible carrier band is made from a permeable material so as to function as a filter. 
     
     
       4. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible carrier band has perforations so as to function as a filter. 
     
     
       5. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to  claim 1  wherein the upper part of the flexible carrier band is inclined and the band moves in an upward direction. 
     
     
       6. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to  claim 1  wherein the drive element is separated from a filtering area.